BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE (SATURDAY SITTING). (Hansard, 1 August 1890)

§ *(4.25.) MR. W. H. SMITH
said: If the business with regard to Nos. 1 and 2 on the Paper and the Report of Supply are concluded to-night, the substantial business to-morrow will be the Police Bill and the Police (Scotland) Bill.

§ SIR G. CAMPBELL
I protest against taking the Police Bill on Saturday. It is a Bill which affects all the constituencies, a Bill which neither the House nor the country has had an opportunity of understanding—[Cries of" Agreed!"] —a Bill which, in my opinion, is of such a wide character, and involves the interests of so many constituencies, that it ought not to be taken at a Saturday Sitting.

§ * MR. SPEAKER
The hon. Member is not in order in discussing a measure which is to be brought on upon another day.

§ MR. A. O'CONNOR
May I ask whether we cannot shorten the rest of the Session. If the Government will only let the House clearly know what is the minimum with which they will be satisfied, so that Members may know precisely whore they are placed, the business would go on with considerable alacrity.

§ * MR. W. H. SMITH
The House has already been informed on the subject. I said that it would be necessary to pass the Local Taxation Bill, the Police Bill, 1557 the Irish Census Bill—["No"]—I think Members from Ireland generally desire to see it passed, as well as the Census Bills for England and Scotland—the Public Works Loans Bill, and the Savings Banks Bill, which, I believe, there is only one Member opposed to in this House—[Mr. STOREY: That is not so]—I have endeavoured to ascertain, and I believe the hon. Member is the only opponent. It may require that we should sit a day or two longer, but the Government think it right to persevere with a measure which, as I stated yesterday, is for the protection of the working classes. These are the measures which the Government think it necessary to proceed with, and having stated that twice, three times, or four times already, I think I am not unreasonable in asking that we may be allowed to proceed with the business without undue delay.

§ MR. STOREY (Sunderland)
I assure the right hon. Gentleman that I know from personal contact with Gentlemen not only on this, but on the other side of the House, that there are very considerable objections to the Savings Banks Bill. ["No."] If instead of adding burdens to the Savings Banks the right hon. Gentleman would give additional powers for receiving money, he would have no difficulty in passing the Bill. As one connected with Savings Banks for 25 years, I can say that the Bill in its present shape is absolutely useless.

§ * MR. CHANNING (Northampton, E.)
I should like to urge the claims of the Registration of Titles Bill and the Registration of Assurances Bill, which would be of the greatest value in connection with the Land Purchase Bill.

§ MR. DILLON
Great discussion may arise on the Registration of Titles Bill, and unless the right hon. Gentleman is prepared to give ample time for such discussion it would be better to postpone the Bill.

§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. MADDEN,) Dublin University
Although the general principles of the Local Registration of Titles Bill, and the Bill dealing with the Registry of Deeds, have been accepted by Members on both sides of the House, I fully recognise that these measures raise important questions of detail. It would be unreasonable to expect that time should be given for them during the 1558 present Session, but I propose to introduce them at the very earliest period next Session.

§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. P. B. ROBERTSON,) Bute
said: The Report of the Select Committee on the Scotch Police Bill will be circulated immediately, but not with the documents which were to form appendices. These Will be circulated as soon as possible.

§ DR. CLARK (Caithness)
May I ask when Scotch Supply will be taken. A number of Members have been compelled to remain in town on account of it. If we could only get a pledge that Scotch Supply would not be considered while Scotch Members are away there would not be much trouble. The Irish Estimates have been taken some time ago, and Irish Members have not troubled the House since.

§ MR. SPEAKER
The question before the House is not Scotch Supply, but that the sitting to-morrow be subject to the rules regulating the sitting of the House on Wednesday.